Our story starts 45 miles apart: Ben grew up in Worcester, MA, and Jillian grew up in Tolland, CT. Somehow, fate decided that the best place for a Massachusetts guy and a Connecticut girl to meet would be… North Carolina! We both quickly fell for not only the “country club” like campus at High Point University, but also quickly sparked a romantic connection with each other beginning sophomore year. One of the first things we bonded over was our mutual love of Boston sports (especially Ben’s family Patriots season tickets. Thanks, Grampy, you helped me get the girl). Our love story continued strong through graduation which brought us both back home to beloved New England. Despite choosing very different career paths—Jillian pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy at UCONN and Ben heading toward UMASS law school—our relationship grew steadily, grounded in mutual respect and ambition filled with countless weekend visits and “let’s meet halfway” dates. We navigated the pressures of graduate school together, graduating on the same day and taking the bar exam and boards on the same day. Starting our careers together, we found our way to Boston, which now feels like home in every sense of the word. Now engaged, we are planning a wedding that celebrates not only our love but our shared roots and the unlikely path that brought two New England kids together in the heart of North Carolina. From Worcester and Tolland to High Point and back to Boston, every step has led us here. We cannot wait to celebrate our wedding day surrounded by the people who have been part of our journey from the very beginning.